Improvement in sweepers



' R. G. PITTMAN.

Sweeper.

No. 220,413. Patented Oct. 7,1879.

INVENTOR WITNESSES UNITED swarms PATENT OFFIC BEDDING. PITTMAN, OF ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA.

IM PR'OVE'M ENT IN 'SWEEPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 220, 11 3, dated October 7, 1879; application filed July 2, 1879.

' To all whom it may concern:

out raising any dust.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations, which will first be particularly described in connection with the drawings, and then clearly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, A is the drum, provided midway of'its length with sockets a, in which are placed the spiral springs Z).

B are strips of wood or other material, each holding several rows of brushes, 0, that are longitudinally secured on the drum. over the springs b, by the screws 0 at each end.

The ends of the screws are, preferably, set in metallic bands 61, which add stability and durability to the parts.

On turning out the screws 0 the springs I) operate to press the brushes outward, and will H continue to do so, it desirable, untilthe brushes 4 are entirely worn out.

' Asithe brushes are, perhaps, the most .costl y part "of the device, the advantage of an arrangement that will permit them to be used up in effective work must be obvious to all.

Longitudinally through the drum passes the axle D, on each end of which is a wheel, pref- The wheels E andF revol ife loosely on the axle,

while the wheel F (thefTdriving-wheel) has attached to its inner faclthe annular internal gear-wheel G, that gears with the wheel H, which, in turn, engages with the gear-wheel I, that is fixed on the end of the drum A. Then it will be seen that, as the driving-wheel is made to revolve, it causes the drum to revolve in an opposite direction.

The stern-block K is securely held in position by the straps L, that are bent around the ends'of the device outside of the large wheels, and held onto the ,axle by nuts. Inside of the strap L that is nearest the driving-wheel is a strap or arm, g, which is held firmly on the other side of the driving-wheel and parallel with L by the bolts h, that pass through both L and g and the block 6, that holds them the required distance apart. The pin it, projecting at right angles from this strap g, serves as the axle for the gear-wheel H.

The slotted ends of the cover M are set over and about the ends of the drum, and the yoke N, which is riveted or otherwise fastened along the top of the cover, has its ends punched and bent down and sprung over the ends of the axle, in order to hold the cover down in position. Attached to the cover is also an ear, l, having a slotted end, bent off at about a right angle, which fits over an upright post or stem, m, that projects upward from the stern-block. On this post m is a pair of nuts, one above and the other below the end of the ear, and by their means the rear and forward ends of the cover are raised and lowered at will, so as to regulate the position of the apron.

The dust-pan O is suspended in front by throwing the wire loop a over the cleat or bar 0 on top of the cover, and in the bottom of this pan is hinged a plate of sheet metal, P, which is called the apron. When in operation this apron nearly touches the floor, and up this incline the brushes throw or whip the dust, 850. As the lower end of the dust-pan comes near the floor, should any substance of small size come under it the apron allows it to pass under; but should there be any obstruction of a half-inch in diameter or larger, the dust-pan itself will rise up and pass over it.

The handle Q is simply to guide and operate the machine. It is secured on pins that project from the straps L, and can be taken off by springing its arms open.

Projecting downward from the center of the stern-block is the caster S, on which the machine can be turned around in a small space.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut-- 1. The within-described sweeper, consisting of drum A, provided with sockets a, spiral springs b, and metallic bands (1, strips B, provided with brushes 0 and screws 0, axle D, wheel E, driving-wheel F, provided with internal annular gear G, gear-wheels H and I, stern-block K, straps L, strap g,provided with pin k, bolts h,block i',cover M, provided with yoke N, cleat or bar 0, and ear I, dust-pan 0, provided with loop n and apron P, stem or post m, caster S, and handle Q, constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a sweeper, the combination'of the sternblOck K, straps L and g, pin 7:,bolts h, block i, cover M, yoke N, bar 0, ear I, dust-pan 0, provided with loop n and apron P, post; m, and caster S, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In the combination of asweeper, the cover M, provided with yoke N, bar 0', and earl, dust-pan 0, loop n, and apron P, substantially as herein shown and described.

REDDIN GRISHAM. PITTMAN.

Witnesses:

R. C. TILLERY, LUTHER F. TILLERY. 

